Friday, January 28, 2005

The No Child Left Behind Act has a provision in it where your child's personal information is automatically given to any recruitment center..

I just came in from the informal presentation given by a member of the Iraq Vets against the War. The presentation was given at the little Collingswood, NJ, library. That library was overflowing with people.The statement in the title of this post is just one of many things that I heard tonight. In fact, I heard too many to be able to post on them. Too many. It is worse than I thought, and I am a total pessimist about this war of freedom--as if you couldn't tell--The presenter was Pat Resta. He joined slightly after high school, served his time, enlisted in the National Guard for the tuition money, was in college when 911 occurred, and was called to active duty one month after 911. He just came back from Iraq. He was a medic there. He is 26 years old. He did not give accounts of his service that related to his job as a medic. What he said tonight was as gruesome as horrorific war injuries. I need some time to sort it out in my mind, and decide on a course of action. A few things that stand out are:1) The No Child Left Behind Act includes a provision where your child's personal information can be given to any recruitment center.2) That there is now a law in place that, if you apply for a Pell Grant, or a student loan,or any type of tuition aid, that your personal information is automatically given to the Selective Service. If you refuse to have it given to the Selective Service, then you are denied the loan/grant. 3) The young man was a medic with the Army National Guard. He was recruited at the age of 17, had served his "time" and was in college when 911 happened. He was called into active service, and was sent to Fort Jackson with other NG's. The army had the men guard Fort Jackson with guns that had no bullets.....The soldiers who guarded the airports after 911, did not have bullets in their guns. It was all for show. If they did have to defend themselves, the airports, etc., from terrorists, well, they could fist fight them, try hitting them with the rifle, or run. Running away is what the current Iraqi police do when an insurgent slash terrorist confronts them..4) The lack of armor, and protective vests is very real. He had to take out a loan for $1,500 before he was sent to Iraq last year, in order to have a bullet proof vest. While riding in the unarmored humvees, he sat on it. He betted on the idea that the most danger would come from riding over IED's that would explode under the un armored jeep, igniting the unprotected fuel tanks. ..
5) When he was called up one month after 911,-- one month--the military was already planning the invasion of Iraq.
6) That he was somehow involved in guarding, or at, the oil fields in Iraq--have to check my notes, but, basically, that we are in this war for the oil.
7) That a draft is imminent. When he was first sent to Fort Jackson, he met a 57 year old grandmother who was retired, but who they called up. She was in a foxhole with a gun...When he was first deployed, to Iraq, the National Guardsmen were not in the physical condition to be sent to war. Two that he knew, had heart attacks the first month, and one, who had a 30% disability due to a bad back, had to be sent home the first month.

The list goes on, and on. I was horrified. There is no reason not to believe what this 26 year old man is saying. He is medium height, very honest, very matter of fact, earnest and intelligent. --after thinking awhile about what other words could be used to describe him as he spoke, compassionate intensity came to mind. He cares deeply about thses issues, and has the strength to act on his beliefs.--- His name is Pat Resta. You can find articles that he wrote at www.lefthook.org,here , and his photos, here , and at www.counterpunch.org , here. Please read them. Mr. Resta explains his position, and his reasons for speaking out against this war, and his experiences in it, extensively, and much better than I can.He also said that he emailed the numerous pics of the unarmored humvees etc., to all of the major papers, and not one ever responded to him.

and that he is not entitled to any of the tuition money that originally made him sign up. Why? Because you have to attend school during the two years that would have been your active service. If you are called to active duty instead, the money is forfeited. yes, he should have read the fine print, but, did you read the fine print, when you were 17?

Here are a few links leading to additional information on the recruitment provision of the No Child Left Behind Act for anyone who is interested. The first links to a brief story in Mother Jones that explains in simple language the terms and implications of the provision. The second is to The American Friends Service Committee, which will lead you to an "Opt Out" tool kit and other helpful information on countering the presence of recruiters in schools.

Quote of the Day
"When we get back to the states... ," NBC news anchor Brian Williams, forgetting he was in the United States

"...all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." ---Abraham Lincoln, First Innaugural Address......USA 2005--BE A BETTER ANGEL

FOR THE WAR? CLICK BELOW. AGAINST THE WAR? CLICK BELOW

"All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight and who therefore induce the young manhood to do the fighting for them."
--Emma Goldman, 1917

"When we get injured, all it says is `one soldier wounded,' " Specialist Acosta said, echoing others at Walter Reed. "Not that a soldier has lost an arm or a leg, or how hard that is."

"The story of what we've done in the postwar period is remarkable," Nethercutt, R-Wash. "It is a better and more important story than losing a couple of soldiers every day."

THE CHILDREN OF IRAQ-- NEED YOU

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy
are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall - think of it, ALWAYS." Mahatma Gandhi

"War does not determine who is right - only who is left." --Bertrand Russell

"My pacifism is not based on any intellectual theory but on a deep antipathy to every form of cruelty and hatred." --Albert Einstein

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." --Martin Luther King, Jr., 1967